Trash Receptacle Having Storage Compartments

ABSTRACT

A trash receptacle assembly that is used to store useful secondary objects while operating to collect. The assembly includes a trash container having a bottom surface and an open top. A base is provided at the bottom of the assembly. The base is separate from the trash container. At least one storage container is provided. If more than one storage container is provided, the storage containers interconnect into a stacked configuration. Each of the storage containers has a top and a bottom. The top of each storage container is configured to selectively engage and disengage the bottom surface of the trash receptacle. Furthermore, the bottom of each storage container is configured to selectively engage and disengage the top surface of the base. Accordingly, the storage containers interconnect with each other and then interconnect the trash receptacle to the base.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/118,626, filed May 9, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to the structure of trash receptacles. More particularly, the present invention relates to trash receptacles having storage compartments for holding items other than trash.

2. Prior Art Description

In a typical household, trash receptacles are customarily provided in two locations. Those locations are the kitchen and the bathrooms. Trash receptacles are provided in the kitchen and bathrooms because most of a family's trash is generated in these rooms.

It also happens that the kitchen and bathrooms of a home traditionally are the best lit rooms in a home. Furthermore, the kitchen and bathrooms are where the majority of a home's plumbing fixtures are located, including the sinks. Accordingly, if a person is working on an activity and needs a sink and/or requires good lighting, that project is typically taken to the kitchen or a bathroom.

Since the kitchen and bathrooms are the project centers of a home, tools and other such items are commonly kept in the kitchen and bathroom. For instance, items like scissors, bandages, first aid kits, and screwdrivers can be found in cabinets and drawers throughout most kitchens and/or bathrooms.

Although items, such as tools and bandages are typically used in a kitchen or in a bathroom, it is not always convenient to store such objects in these rooms. Many homes have limited storage space in the kitchen and bathroom. This storage space is typically occupied by household essentials, such as plates, silverware and toiletries.

Since kitchens and bathrooms typically contain trash receptacles, it is believed that some of the space in the trash receptacle can be utilized to store less used items, such as tools and first aid kits. In this manner, rarely used items can be safely stored in an out-of-the-way location, while remaining readily available for use.

In the prior art, there are trash receptacles that contain a primary compartment for holding trash and storage compartments for holding other items. Typically, such storage compartments are designed to hold a supply of trash bags for use in the primary compartment. Such prior art trash receptacles are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,424 to Gola, entitled, Trash Receptacle With Bag Holder. Such prior art trash receptacles typically contain a single large secondary compartment for holding a roll of trash bags and have a slot so that trash bags can be pulled from the roll of bags one at a time. Such compartments are poorly suited for holding and accessing small objects, such as tools, first aid products and the like.

The prior art also includes various containers that can be interconnected in a stacked orientation. Such prior art is exemplified by U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2006/0278552 to Wang. However, such stacked containers are also poorly sized and shapes for trash receptacles.

A need therefore exists for a trash receptacle that has storage compartments that are specifically designed to hold small objects in a manner that is space efficient, yet provides quick and easy accessibility. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a trash receptacle assembly that is used to store secondary objects while operating as a trash can. The assembly includes a trash container having a bottom surface and an open top. The trash container is located at the top of the assembly and is capable of receiving and holding trash.

A base is provided at the bottom of the assembly. The base is separate from the trash container. The base has a top surface and a bottom surface.

At least one storage container is provided. If more than one storage container is provided, the storage containers interconnect into a stacked configuration. Each of the storage containers has a top and a bottom. The top of each storage container is configured to selectively engage and disengage the bottom surface of the trash container. Furthermore, the bottom of each storage container is configured to selectively engage and disengage the top surface of the base. Accordingly, the storage containers interconnect with each other and then interconnect the trash container to the base. The contents of a particular storage container are accessed by removing the trash container and any storage container that may be stacked atop the targeted storage container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a trash receptacle assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a storage container element of the exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is a trash receptacle. It will be understood that trash receptacles can be made in many different shapes and styles. The style of the trash receptacle that is illustrated will therefore be understood as being only one example of the many forms the present invention can take.

Referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of a trash receptacle assembly 10 is shown. The trash receptacle assembly 10 includes a large trash container 12. The trash container 12 has a bottom surface 16. A container wall 18 extends upwardly from the bottom surface 16. The container wall 18 terminates with an open top 14. The container wall 18 can follow a circular path or an oblong path. However, it is preferred that the bottom surface 16 of the trash container 12 be round. Regardless of its peripheral shape, it will be understood that the trash container 12 has a maximum diameter D1. The trash container 12 has a preferred volume of at least five gallons for kitchen use and at least two gallons for bathroom use. In this manner, standard sized kitchen and bathroom garbage bags can be properly received within the trash container 12. Furthermore, the trash container 12 has a height H1 greater than twelve inches that enables the trash container 12 to properly hold a commercial trash bag. As will later be described in more detail, the bottom surface 16 of the trash container 12 is designed to either directly engage a base 30 or engage one of a plurality of storage containers 20.

In the shown embodiment, three storage containers 20 a, 20 b, 20 c are shown. Such a number is merely exemplary and it should be understood that one storage container or any plurality of storage containers can be used. The storage containers 20 a, 20 b, 20 c all are much thinner and smaller than the trash container 12. It is preferred that the storage containers 20 a, 20 b, 20 c each have a height of no greater than four inches. As such, the height of the various storage containers 20 is less than one-fourth the height of the trash container 12. Preferably, the various storage containers 20 each define a space with a volume less than a gallon.

Each storage container 20 is preferably prepackaged with goods of a certain type. In the shown embodiment, there are three storage containers 20 a, 20 b, 20 c. The first storage container 20 a is filled with tools 22. The second storage container 20 b is prepackaged with first aid materials 24. The last storage container 20 c is prepackaged with sewing materials 26. Goods of many other types can also be prepackaged. For example, storage containers 20 of cookie cutters, or craft stamps can be made available. It is preferred that the storage containers 20 be prepackaged and sold separately. In this manner, a person can purchase a storage container 20 that is prepackaged with goods suited to the needs of the buyer.

Each of the storage containers 20 is identical in form other than in what good they hold. Each storage container 20 has a top rim 27 and a solid bottom surface 28. Connection elements 29 are formed both along the top rim 27 of the storage container 20 and along the bottom surface 28 of the storage container 20. The purpose of the connection elements 29 is to enable the bottom surface 28 of one storage container 20 to mechanically interconnect with the top rim 27 of another. In this manner, the various storage containers 20 can be interlocked in a stacked configuration 32. Since the structure of the various storage containers 20 is the same, it will be understood that any number of storage containers 20 can be interconnected in a stacked configuration 32. Regardless of the number of storage containers 20 in the stacked configuration 32, each of the storage containers 20 are mechanically interconnected and concentrically aligned within the stacked configuration 32.

In the shown illustration, the connection elements 29 include tabs 34 and slots 36. The tabs 34 are shown on the top rim 27 of the storage container 20 and the slots 36 are shown on the bottom surface 28 of the storage container 20. Such connection elements 29 are merely exemplary and other connection elements, such as thread connections and locking clips, can also be used.

A base 30 is provided. The base 30 has a flat bottom support 38 that enables the base 30 to rest upon any flat surface. The bottom support 38 has a diameter D2. The diameter D2 of the bottom support 38 is at least twenty-five percent larger than the outside diameter of either the storage containers 20 or the trash receptacle 12. In this manner, when the storage containers 20 and trash container 12 are stacked atop the base 30, the entire assembly is stable and cannot be easily tipped over.

The base 30 has connection ring 40. The connection ring 40 of the base 30 has connection elements 42 in the same positions as the top rim 27 of a storage container 20. It will therefore be understood that the bottom surface 28 of any of the storage containers 20 can engage the connection ring 40 of the base 30 in the same manner as the storage containers 20 can engage each other. The storage containers 20 can, therefore, lock together in a stacked configuration 32 and the stacked configuration 32 can lock atop the base 30.

The bottom surface 16 of the trash container 12 is configured to have the same shape as the bottom surface 28 of any of the storage containers 20. It will therefore be understood that the bottom surface 16 of the trash container 12 has connection elements 45 that can interconnect with the top rim 27 of any of the storage containers 20. In the shown embodiment, the connection elements 45 are tabs that are sized and shaped to be the same as the tabs 34 on the storage containers 20. Furthermore, the connection elements 45 the bottom surface 16 of the trash container 12 can connect directly to the connection ring 40 of the base 30 in the same manner as any of the storage containers 20.

From the above, it will be understood that any number of storage containers 20, can be interconnected between the trash container 12 and the base 30. Alternatively, the trash container 12 can be attached directly to the base 30 without any intervening storage container 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of a storage container 20 is shown. The storage container 20 is generally bowl shaped having a flat bottom surface 28 and a top rim 27. The storage container 20 defines a compartment 44 that is accessible through the center of the top rim 27. An insert 46 is provided that fits within the compartment 44 of the storage container 20. The insert 46 is shaped to hold a plurality of objects in an organized manner. In the shown embodiment, the insert 46 holds a plurality of tools 22. The tools 22 are held so that the tools 22 fit within the compartment 44 and do not extend above the top rim 27 of the storage container 12.

Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it will be understood that to utilize the present invention, a person purchases the trash container 12 and the base 30. The trash container 12 and the base 30 can be joined together and used as a standard trash receptacle. A user would also buy at least one storage container 20 that is prepackaged with goods. The goods may be tools, first aid materials, craft materials, or the like. The storage containers 20 are stacked in between the trash container 12 and the base 30. The trash container 12, storage containers 20 and base 30 all interconnect. In this manner, the whole assembly 10 still appears and functions as a trash receptacle.

To utilize an object from one of the storage containers 20, the storage container 20 that holds the desired product is identified. The trash container 12 and any other storage containers 20 that lay above the identified storage container 20 are removed. The object can then be taken from the storage container 20, or the entire storage container 20 removed. The remaining storage containers 20, base 30, and trash container 12 are then reassembled into a trash receptacle assembly 10. To replace the object, the process is reversed.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a variation of the present invention is shown. In the previous embodiments, the storage container attached to the trash container and the base using locking tabs. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, an assembly 50 is shown where a base 52, storage container 54 and trash container 56 all interconnect using threaded joints 58, 60. The threaded joint 58 on the storage container 54 is the same shape as the threaded joint 60 on the base 52. It will therefore be understood that the base 52 can be selectively attached to either the trash container 56 or the storage container 54.

A further difference embodied by the embodiment of FIG. 4, is that the base 52 has a built-in storage compartment 62. Accordingly, if the trash container 56 were attached directly to the base 52, there is still a storage compartment 62 available for holding secondary objects.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that is shown is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments using functionally equivalent components. For instance, the primary trash container, storage containers and base can be configured into many shapes and sizes that differ from those illustrated. Furthermore, a variety of connectors can be used to interconnect the various components. All such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. 

1. A trash receptacle assembly, comprising: a trash container having a closed bottom surface of a first diameter, a container wall that extends a predetermined height upwardly from said bottom surface, wherein said container defines a predetermined volume; a base having a bottom support and a connection ring disposed atop said bottom support, wherein said bottom support is at least twenty-five percent wider than said first diameter of said bottom surface of said trash receptacle, and wherein said trash container and said base are separate; and a storage container having a top, a bottom, and a height between said top and said bottom, wherein said height is no greater than twenty-five percent of said predetermined height of said trash container, wherein said storage container is separate from said trash container and said base; connection elements formed onto said trash container, said base and said storage container that enable said top of said storage container to selectively engage and disengage said bottom surface of said trash receptacle, and enables said connection ring on said base to selectively and separately engage either said bottom of said storage container or said bottom of said storage container.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined volume of said trash container is between two gallons and five gallons.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1, further including subsequent containers that can be selectively joined with said storage container in a stacked configuration, wherein said trash container and said base can both be selectively attached to said stacked configuration and detached from said stacked configuration.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said stacked configuration is interposed between said trash container and said base when attached to both said trash container and said base.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, further including an insert disposed inside said storage container.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said insert is configured to hold a plurality of objects.
 7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of objects is selected from a group consisting of tools, first aid supplies and craft supplies.
 8. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said storage container and said subsequent containers each have identical structures.
 9. A trash receptacle assembly, comprising: a trash container having a bottom surface, a container wall that extends a predetermined height upwardly from said bottom surface, wherein said container has an open top and defines a predetermined volume; a base having a top surface, wherein said trash container and said base are separate units; and a plurality of storage containers, wherein each storage container has a top, a bottom, and a height between said top and said bottom, wherein said height is no greater than twenty-five percent of said predetermined height of said trash container, wherein said storage container is separate from said trash container and said base, and wherein each of said storage containers can be selectively interconnected in a stacked configuration; connection elements formed onto said trash container, said base and said storage containers that enable said stacked configuration to selectively engage and disengage said bottom surface of said trash receptacle, and enable said base to selectively and separately engage said stacked configuration opposite said trash receptacle.
 10. The assembly according to claim
 9. wherein said trash container has a predetermined volume and each of said plurality of storage containers has a volume no greater than twenty-five percent that of said trash container.
 11. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein each of said storage containers has a top and a bottom, wherein said top of each of said storage containers has said connection elements configured to selectively engage and disengage said bottom surface of said trash container, and wherein said bottom of each of said storage containers has said connection elements configured to selectively engage and disengage said top surface of said base.
 12. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said connection elements on said top surface of said base are configured to selectively engage and disengage said bottom surface of said trash container.
 13. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said stacked configuration is interposed between said trash container and said base when attached to both said trash container and said base.
 14. The assembly according to claim 9, further including an insert disposed inside each of said storage containers.
 15. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein each said insert is configured to hold a plurality of objects.
 16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of objects is selected from a group consisting of tools, first aid supplies and craft supplies.
 17. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein each of said storage containers has identical structures.
 18. A method of storing objects under a trash receptacle, comprising the steps of: providing a trash container having a closed bottom surface of a first diameter, a container wall that extends a predetermined height upwardly from said bottom surface, wherein said container defines a predetermined volume; providing a base having a bottom support and a connection ring disposed atop said bottom support, wherein said bottom support is at least twenty-five percent wider than said first diameter of said bottom surface of said trash receptacle, and wherein said trash container and said base are separate; providing at least one storage container that is attached to said top surface of said base, wherein said at least one storage container has a top, a bottom, and a height between said top and said bottom, wherein said height is no greater than twenty-five percent of said predetermined height of said trash container, wherein said storage container is separate from said trash container and said base; placing objects in said at least one storage container; and attaching said trash container to said at least one storage container, wherein said at least one storage container is interposed between said base and said trash container. 